Livingston County, Michigan

Livingston County is located in the southeastern section of Michigan's lower peninsula. It's county seat is Howell. This county was named after Edward Livingston, Secretary of State under President Andrew Johnson, and Minister to France.

Although the U.S. Surveyor-General in 1815 reported the soil in this area to be of such poor quality that it was unsuitable for farming, the Chippewa and Potawatomi had farmed it for years. This was eventually realized and the region became an important agricultural area for livestock and grain. After World War II, many people moved to Livingston County to escape the city. This caused agriculture to decline in importance.

During the 1970's, Livingston County was the fastest growing county in Michigan, but 20,000 acres of public land were kept from development to retain the area's natural beauty. The Brighton Island and Pinckney State Recreation areas make this a great county for recreation.

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